Final answer:
The optimal character count per line for multiple columns, especially in English, is often between four and five metric feet, balancing readability and rhythm. Short one-foot lines can be less expressive, while longer lines offer a conversational or lyrical tone.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question regards the optimal character count per line for multiple columns of text, particularly for English language compositions. It's indicated that for English, the rhythm can impact the readability and aesthetic of poetry and prose. The character count that often sounds most natural is in a line of four to five metric feet, emulating common iambic patterns.
Short lines of one foot can lack musicality and tension, making it challenging to present complex ideas or create engaging rhythms. Conversely, longer lines, which could be conversational as demonstrated in Denise Duhamel's works or even lyrical as seen in Larry Levis' poetry, provide a different tone altogether.